Advertising device for taxis and the like



Dec. 21, 1965 'r. R. GREEN ADVERTISING DEVICE FOR TAXIS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 19, 1965 I43 W69 I45 147 3.9 FIG. 5 4/ 45 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. THE RON R. 6/?5 E N BY M r I 3,224,129 ADVERTISING DEVICE FOR TAXES AND THE LIKE Theron R. Green, West Memphis, Arln, assignor to Motor Ads, Inc., Memphis, Tenn. Filed Jan. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 426,655 14 Claims. (Cl. 4il129) This invention relates to an advertising device for use with a taxi and the like, and particularly relates to that type of device which includes an advertising sign mounted on top of a taxi.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved sign arrangement that is highly eflicient, as well as being durable and economical to manufacture.

A further object is to provide an advertising device for use with a taxi that is easily and quickly removable from and replaceable on the taxi top, so that the taxi driver can temporarily remove the sign for pleasure driving, or for any other reason, as, for example, when the taxi is being washed.

A further object is to provide, in such an advertising device, unique attaching devices, each of which includes a single thumb screw for use in simply, easily and quickly operating the attaching device.

A further object is to provide, in such an attaching device, means for easily and quickly aligning the thumb screw apertures in attaching the sign to the taxi top.

A further object is to provide, in such an attaching device, means that prevents leakage of water through the attachment holes in the top of the taxi.

A further object is to provide such an advertising device that can be quickly and easily converted from and to combination night and day use, and from daytime use only.

A further object is to provide, in such an advertising device for combination night and day use, a self-contained cover and lighting assembly that has the flurescent tubes, sockets, light-Weight electrical components, and circuit means, all mounted on the underside of the cover, and which only has one wire leading therefrom that can be quickly and easily plugged into the electrical system of the taxi, as, for example, into a connection with the light on top of the taxi, so that when the taxi light is turned on, the sign light is also turned on.

A further object is to provide an improved frame and sign assembly wherein a pair of signs are utilized that extend parallel to the direction of travel of the taxi and can be viewed from the sides of the taxi.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction of advertising devices.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the advertising device of the present invention shown attached to a taxi, and with only a fragmentary portion of the taxi top being shown.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1, with portions broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the lighting system of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line IVIV of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale and taken as on the line V-V of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of one of the attaching devices of the present invention, with a fragmentary portion 3,224,129 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 of the taxi top being shown and with an outline in broken lines of a fragmentary portion of the frame of the advertising device being shown.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the device of the present invention converted to daytime use only.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the advertising device 11 of the present invention is shown in conjunction with a taxicab 13, with only a portion of the top 15 and the usual light 17 mounted on top 15 being shown, since the taxi is of usual construction and forms no part of the present invention.

Advertising device 11 comprises a frame 19 that is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the side, as in FIG. 2. Frame 19 includes a horizontally disposed bottom member 21 and a pair of oppositely disposed end members 23, 25 fixedly attached, as by welding or the like, to the opposite ends of the bottom member and upstanding therefrom. The opposite ends of members 21, 23 and 25 are preferably mitered, as best seen in FIG. 2. The members 21, 23 and 25 are preferably of an extruded light-weight metal stock, as aluminum or the like, and are all preferably of the cross-sectional shape like bottom member 21, best seen in FIG. 5. Thus, the following description of bottom member 21 will suflice for end members 23, 25 since they are substantially identical thereto.

Bottom member 21 comprises a bottom portion 27 extending the length thereof, a pair of side flanges 29, 31 integrally formed with bottom portion 27 and upstanding therefrom, and an intermediate flange 33 integrally formed with bottom portion 27 and upstanding therefrom between side flanges 29, 31 in spaced relationship to the side flanges to provide upwardly opening grooves 35, 37 in bottom member 21 extending the length thereof. It will be understood that the flanges of end members 23, 25 and the corresponding grooves therebetween extend inwardly towards one another and are in matching relationship to the grooves 35, 37 of bottom member 21, so that U-shaped frame 19 can slidably receive a pair of sign boards 39, 41 with the end edges and bottom edges of the sign boards being respectively received in the grooves in members 23, 25 and 21. In other words, the sign boards 39, 41 are removably and replaceably received in U-shaped frame 19 by vertically moving the sign boards out of and into the top of the frame, with the top portions of the device 11 removed, as will be better understood in the description to follow later in the specification. With the sign boards 39, 41 in place, it will be seen that the signs are in parallel spaced relationship with the backs 43, 45 spaced apart, as seen in FIG. 5, and with the respective outer faces 47, 49 being remote from one another and facing outwardly. The outer faces 47, 49 have the advertising material thereon, as is shown by the advertising material 51 printed on outer face 47, as seen in FIG. 2. The sign boards 39, 41 are parallel with the forward line of travel of taxi 13 so that the advertising material can be seen by persons on both sides of the taxi.

A pair of attaching devices 53, 55 are provided for attaching advertising device 11 to the taxicab top 15. Attaching device 53 comprises a substantially flat and rigid lower plate 57, preferably formed of a light-weight metal, as aluminum or the like, and a resilient pad 59, formed of sponge rubber or the like, which is substantially the size of lower plate 57. When attaching device 53 is in place, pad 59 is disposed beneath the lower plate 57 and between the lower plate and top 15, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Lower plate 57 is semi-permanently attached to top 15 by suitable fastening means, as by a plurality of fastening assemblies 61. Fastening assemblies 61 are preferably of the spreadable type known to those skilled in the art, each of which includes a lower threaded barrel portion 63, an unthreaded upper barrel portion 65 having a flange 67 integrally provided at the upper end thereof, deformable members 69 intercon necting barrel portions 63, 65, and a screw 71 extendable through barrel portion 65 and threadedly engageable with barrel portion 63.

A plurality of apertures 73 are provided through lower plate 57, and which apertures correspond in number to the fastening assemblies 61. In the drawings, four of such fastening assemblies 61 and apertures 73 are shown, although it will be understood that more or less may be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. A like plurality of apertures 75 are provided in resilient pad 59. To install lower plate 57 on the top 15, a like plurality of apertures 77 are provided in top 15 in position to be aligned with apertures 73, 75. As is known to those skilled in the art, the fastening assemblies 61, before installation, have the deformable members 69 substantially straight, at which time the deformable members can be passed through the apertures 75, 77 which are made large enough to receive same. The next step in installing lower plate 57 is to insert the screws 71 through apertures 73 and barrel portion 65. It will be understood that when the screws 71 are turned, since the lower barrel portions 63 are threaded, the screws will cause the barrel portions 63 tov be drawn upwardly and cause the deformable members 69 to be doubled upon themselves into the form best seen in FIG. 4, so that the lower plate 57 will be securely anchored in place on top 15. Due to the resilient pad 59 and the fact that flanges 67 cause a compression thereof, it will be understood that there will be no possibility of leakage of water through the apertures 77.

One of the side edges of lower plate 57 is upturned and then inturned to provide a groove 79 along the length of the side edge, as best seen in FIGS. and 6.

A substantially fiat and rigid upper plate 81 is fixedly attached on the upper side thereof, as by welding or the like, to bottom member 21 of frame 19 intermediate the ends thereof. The side edge 83 of upper plate 81 is substantially straight along the greater part thereof and is of a size to slidably fit into groove 79. The forward edge of upper plate 81 is preferably downturned as at 85 for a purpose later to be described.

When attaching device 53 is in an operative or assembled relationship, the lower face 87 of upper plate 81 is in flat face-to-face engagement with the upper face 89 of lower plate 57, with side edge 83 disposed in groove 79 and with downturned edge 85 engaging the forward edge 91 of lower plate 57. The heads of screws 71 are countersunk in lower plate 57 so that the above-men tioned flat face-to-face engagement of the plates 57, 81 is possible. A thumb screw 93 extends through a hole 95 provided in upper plate 81 and threadedly engages a threaded aperture 97 in lower plate 57 to removably hold the plates 57, 81 in the above-mentioned fiat faceto-face engagement. When side edge 83 is engaged in groove 79 and downturned edge 85 is engaged with forward edge 91, the hole 95 and threaded aperture 97 are in alignment. Thus, it will be understood that the groove 79 is used for fore and aft alignment of hole 95 and aperture 97, and downturned edge 85 is used for transverse alignment of the hole and threaded aperture, when the frame 19 is being put into place.

Attaching device 55 is similar to attaching device 53 except that, in place of downturned edge 85, an integrally formed upstanding flange 99 is provided which is attached to end member 25 as by welding or the like, and the upper plate 101 of attaching device 55, which corresponds to upper plate 81, is fixedly attached to bottom member 21 adjacent the forward end thereof, as

by welding or the like. Attaching device 55 additionally includes a lower plate 103, a thumb screw 105, and fastening assemblies 197, which respectively correspond to and are similar in construction to lower plate 57, thumb screw 93, and fastening assemblies 61.

A self-contained cover and lighting system assembly 109 is removably mounted on frame 19. The cover 111 of assembly 109 is elongated and extends substantially horizontally along the length of frame 19 and projects substantially beyond both sides of the frame, as best seen in FIG. 1. Cover 111 includes a substantially horizontal intermediate portion 113, inwardly angled reflecting portions 115, 117 integrally formed adjacent the opposite side edges of intermediate portion 113. Cover 111 additionally includes flanges 119, 121 depending from the opposite side edges of reflecting portions 115, 117, and opposite end panels 123, 125. End panels 123, 125 are preferably cut out as at 127, and are provided with outwardly projecting tabs 129, 131 which 'fit against corresponding tabs 133, 135 fixedly attached to and outwardly projecting from end members 23, 25. Bolt-nut fastening assemblies 137, 139 extend through aligned apertures provided in tabs 129, 133 and tabs 131, 135 to removably hold assembly 199 on frame 19.

One of the important features of the present invention is the fact that the lighting system 141 of assembly 109 is entirely carried by cover 111, with only a single wire 143 of the lighting system 141 leading from cover 111, so that when the cover is removed or replaced, it is only necessary to disengage or engage the single wire 143. This is done by the electrical connector 145, of suitable construction, which removably connects wire 143 to the wire 147 connected in with the usual light 17 of the taxicab 13 and thus with the electrical system of the taxicab, so that when the light 17 is turned on, as at night, the lighting system 141 is turned on. Lighting system 141 includes a pair of fluorescent tubes 149, 151 which are preferably of the so-called black light type, or they may be of the so-called white light type without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Tubes 149, 151 are removably mounted beneath cover 111 on either side thereof beneath the reflecting portions 115, 117, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, by suitable well-known sockets 153 that are attached to the end panels 123, 125. One end of the tubes 149, 151 are grounded through the sockets 153 to the cover 111, which are indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 3 as at 155, 157. Thus, one end of the tubes 149, 151 are grounded to the taxicab through the frame 19 and the attaching devices 53, 55. The opposite ends of the tubes 149, 151 are connected respectively by the leads 159, 161 to the units 163, 165. Each of the units 163, 165 is of suitable construction known to those skilled in the art, which is a light, compact unit that preferably comprises a combination of transistors and ballasts which convert the electricity from the taxicab system to the form usable for lighting tubes 149, 151. The units 163, 165 are respectively fixedly attached to intermediate portion 113 and respectively connected to wire 143 by the conductors 167, 169 to complete the lighting system 141. Thus, it will be seen that the tubes 149, 151 are in parallel and are caused to light when the taxicab light 17 is turned on, and the light from tubes 149, 151 will shine on the advertising material 51 on the outer faces 47, 49. The advertising material 51 is preferably fluorescent or any of the known glow-type paints which will glow in the dark when the ultraviolet rays from the tubes. 149, 151 shine thereon.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the preferred form of the present invention, shown in FIGS. l-6, provides a very simple and highly eflicient arrangement that can be quickly and easily removed simply by unscrewing the thumb screws 93, 105 and disconnecting the wire 143.

Also, it can be seen that the self-contained assembly 109 can easily be removed by undoing the fastening assemblies 137, 139 so that the device can be converted to the sign shown in FIG. 7, which is for daytime use only. The alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 7 comprises the same construction as the heretofore described preferred embodiment, except that, in place of the assembly 109, an upper member 171 is provided. Upper member 171 is similar to bottom member 21 and is of the same cross-section as the bottom member and the end members 23, 25 and removably encloses the upper edges of sign boards 39, 41. A pair of tabs 173 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 7) are fixedly attached to the opposite ends of upper member 171 and overlie the tabs 133, 135 to which they are removably attached as by fastening assemblies 137, 139.

It will be noted that the units are so designed that, if desired, the upper member 171 can be left in place and assembly 109 mounted over the top thereof to convert from day to night-time use. Upper member 171 is not an essential element of the conversion and may be easily left on or off without causing any difliculty in attaching assembly 109. Thus, when it is desired that upper memher 171 be left on, as, for example, to further protect the sign boards 39, 41 and to provide a stiffer four-sided rectangular frame, rather than a U-shaped frame, tabs 129, 131 can be respectively placed over tab 135 and the corresponding tab on the other end, and then fastened in place with fastening assemblies 139.

Although the invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity or understanding, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. An advertising device for use with a taxi having a top, said device comprising a frame, sign means carried by said frame, at least one attachment device for removably attaching said advertising device to said taxi; said attachment device comprising a substantially flat and rigid lower plate having a first edge portion, a second edge portion, a threaded aperture in said first edge portion and a groove along said second edge portion, fastening means for rigidly fastening said lower plate to the top of said taxi, a substantially flat upper plate fixedly attached to said frame, said upper plate being provided with a first edge portion having a hole therethrough and a second edge portion, said upper plate being removably engaged in flat face-to-face engagement with said lower plate with said second edge portion of said upper plate being received in said groove of said lower plate, and thumb screw means extending through said hole and threadedly engaging in said threaded aperture for removably holding said upper plate in engagement with said lower plate.

2. An advertising device for use with a taxi having a top, said device comprising a frame, sign means carried by said frame, at least one attachment device for attaching said advertising device to said taxi; said attachment device comprising a substantially flat and rigid lower plate, a sponge rubber pad beneath said lower plate for engaging the top of said taxi, said lower plate including an upturned and inturned side edge to provide a groove extending adjacent a side edge of said lower plate, spreadable fastening means for rigidly fastening said lower plate to the top of said taxi with said pad therebetween, said lower plate being provided with a threaded aperture therethrough, a substantially flat upper plate fixedly attached on the top side thereof to said frame, said upper plate being provided with a hole therethrough and being provided with a downturned edge for engaging an edge of said lower plate to align said hole with said threaded aperture, said upper plate being removably engaged in flat face-to-face engagement with said lower plate and with an edge of said upper plate being in said groove, and thumb screw means extending through said hole and 6 threadedly engaging in said threaded aperture for removably holding said upper plate in engagement with said lower plate.

3. An advertising device for use with a taxi having a top, said device comprising a substantially U-shaped frame including a bottom member and a pair of oppositely disposed end members attached to opposite ends of said bottom member and upstanding therefrom; said bottom member and said end members each including a pair of side flanges and an intermediate flange spaced between said side flanges; a pair of signboards each having oppositely disposed end edges and bottom and top edges; said signboard being removably received in said frame in back-toback relationship to each other and with the end edges and bottom edge of one of said signboards being respectively interposed between the intermediate flange and one of the side flanges of said end members and said bottom member, and with the end edges and bottom edge of the other of said signboards being respectively interposed between the intermediate flange and the other of the side flanges of said end members and said bottom member; an elongated top member including a pair of side flanges and an intermediate flange, said top member being fitted over the top edges of said signboards with the top edge of one of said signboards being slidably received between the intermediate flange of said top member and one of the side flanges of said top member and with the top edge of the other of said signboards being slidably received between the intermediate flange of said top member and the other of the side flanges of said top member, clamping means adjacent the opposite ends of said top member removably attaching said top member to said side members, and a pair of attachment devices for attaching said advertising device to said taxi; each of said attachment devices comprising a substantially flat and rigid lower plate, a sponge rubber pad beneath said lower plate for engaging the top of said taxi, said lower plate including an upturned and inturned side edge to provide a groove extending adjacent a side edge of said lower plate, spreadable fastening means for rigidly fastening said lower plate to the top of said taxi with said pad therebetween, said lower plate being provided with a threaded aperture therethrough, a substantially flat upper plate fixedly attached on the top side thereof to said frame, said upper plate being provided with a hole therethrough and being provided with a downturned edge for engaging an edge of said lower plate to align said hole with said threaded aperture, said upper plate being removably engaged in flat face-toface engagement with said lower plate and with an edge of said upper plate being in said groove, and thumb screw means extending through said hole and threadedly engaging in said threaded aperture for removably holding said upper plate in engagement with said lower plate.

4. An advertising device for use with a taxi having a top and an electrical system, said device comprising a frame, sign means carried by said frame, a self-contained cover and lighting assembly comprising an elongated substantially horizontal cover and lighting means including at least one fluorescent light tube, socket means removably mounting said tube on the underside of said cover, electrical component means fixedly mounted on the underside of said cover for transforming the electricity from the taxi electrical system to a form usable for lighting said tube, circuit means mounted on said cover therebeneath for joining said electrical components and said socket means and including a ground to said cover and a single wire leading from said cover for removably joining to said electrical system of said taxi for supplying electricity to said tube; means for removably mounting said cover on said frame with said cover projecting beyond the opposite sides of said frame and with said tube being in position to project its rays on said sign means, and means for removably attaching said frame to said taxi.

5. The advertising device according to claim 4 in which 7 said tube includes means producing ultraviolet rays and in which said sign means includes means for glowing in the dark when said ultraviolet rays shine thereon.

6. An advertising device for use with a taxi having a top and an electrical system including a light on said top, said device comprising a frame, sign means carried by said frame, a self-contained cover and lighting assembly comprising an elongated substantially horizontal cover having depending flanges around the edges thereof and lighting means including a pair of fluorescent light tubes, socket means removably mounting said tubes on the underside of said cover in parallel spaced relationship, electrical component means mounted permanently on the underside of said cover between said tubes for transforming the electricity from the taxi electrical system to a form usable for lighting said tubes, circuit means mounted on said cover therebeneath for joining said electrical components and said socket means and including a ground to said cover and a single wire leading from said cover for removably joining to said light on said taxi for supplying electricity to said tubes; means for removably mounting said cover on said frame with said cover projecting beyond the opposite sides of said frame and with said tubes being in position to project their rays on said sign means, and a pair of attachment devices for attaching said advertising device to said taxi; each of said attachment devices comprising a substantially flat and rigid lower plate, fastening means for rigidly fastening said lower plate to the top of said taxi, said lower plate being provided with a threaded aperture therethrough, a substantially flat upper plate fixedly attached on the top side thereof to said frame, said upper plate being provided with a hole therethrough, said upper plate being removably engaged in flat face-to-face engagement with said lower plate, and thumb screw means extending through said hole and threadedly engaged in said threaded aperture for removably holding said upper plate in engagement with said lower plate.

7. An advertising device for use with a taxi having a top and an electrical system including a light on said top, said device comprising a substantially U-shaped frame including a bottom member and a pair of oppositely disposed end members attached to opposite ends of said bottom member and upstanding therefrom, said bottom member and said end members each including a pair of side flanges and an intermediate flange spaced between said side flanges, a pair of signboards each having oppositely disposed end edges and bottom and top edges; said signboards being removably received in said frame in backto-back relationship to each other and with the end edges and bottom edge of one of said signboards being respectively interposed between the intermediate flange and one of the side flanges of said end members and said bottom member, and with the end edges and bottom edge of the other of said signboards being respectively interposed between the intermediate flange and the other of the side flanges of said end members and said bottom member; a self-contained cover and lighting system assembly comprising an elongated substantially horizontal cover having depending flanges around the edges thereof; said lighting system including a pair of fluorescent light tubes, socket means removably mounting said tubes on the underside of said cover in parallel spaced relationship, electrical component means mounted permanently on said cover between said tubes for transforming the electricity from the taxi electrical system to the form usable for lighting said tubes, circuit means mounted on said cover therebeneath for joining said electrical components and said socket means and including a ground to said cover and a single wire leading from said cover for removably joining to said light on said taxi for supplying electricity to said tubes; means for removably mounting said cover on said end members adjacent the upper ends thereof with said cover projecting beyond the opposite sides of said U- shaped frame and with one of said tubes being in posi- &

tion to project its rays on one of said signboards and with the other of said tubes being in position to project its rays on the other of said signboards, and a pair of attachment devices for attaching said advertising device to said taxi; each of said attachment devices comprising a substantially flat and rigid lower plate, a sponge rubber pad beneath said rubber plate for engaging the top of said taxi, said lower plate including an upturned and inturned side edge to provide a groove extending adjacent a side edge of said lower plate, spreadable fastening means for rigidly fastening said lower plate to the top of said taxi with said pad therebetween, said lower plate being provided with a threaded aperture therethrough, a substantially flat upper plate fixedly attached on the top side thereof to said bottom member of said frame, said upper plate being provided with a hole therethrough and being provided with a downturned edge for engaging an edge of said lower plate to align said hole with said aperture, said upper plate being removably engaged in a flat face-to-face engagement with said lower plate and with an edge of said upper plate being in said groove, and thumb screw means extending through said hole and threadedly engaged in said threaded aperture for removably holding said upper plate in engagement with said lower plate.

8. In combination with a taxi having an elongated top extending fore and aft of said taxi, an advertising device comprising a frame, sign means carried by said frame and at least one attachment device removably attaching said frame to said taxi top with said frame and said sign means extending in a vertical plane disposed substantially transversely symmetrical of said taxi top, said attachment device including a substantially flat lower plate having a first edge portion, a second edge portion oppositely disposed from said first edge portion, a threaded aperture in said first edge portion, and a groove along said second edge portion, means fixedly fastening said lower plate to said taxi cab top with said first edge portion being disposed toward one side and said second edge portion being disposed toward the other side of said taxi top, a substantially flat upper plate having a first edge portion having a hole extending therethrough and a second edge portion disposed oppositely from said first edge portion, means fixedly securing said upper plate member to said frame with said upper plate member being subjacently disposed of said frame, and a headed screw removably fastening said upper and lower plate members together with said second edge portion of said upper plate member being received in said groove of said lower plate member and with said headed screw extending downwardly through said aperture in said upper plate member and threadingly engaging said threaded aperture of said lower plate member.

9. The advertising device of claim 8 in which said means fixedly fastening said lower plate to said taxi top includes a plurality of threaded fastener assemblies extending respectively through aligned apertures in said lower plate member and said taxi top and with each assembly of said plurality of fastener assemblies including a counter-sunk head screw and a blind type of deformable fastener member, said deformable fastener member being adapted to be inserted in a respective aperture of said taxi top from the outside only of said top and to be deformed and permanently fitted in said taxi top aperture upon fastening said lower plate member to said top and upon tightening and setting said screw of said fastener assembly.

10. The advertising device of claim 8 which additionally includes a rubber pad interposedly secured between said lower plate and the upper surface of said taxi top. r

11. The advertising device of claim 8 which additionally includes, alignment means for aligning said hole in said upper plate and said aperture in lower plate for easy insertion of said screw and for facilitating mounting said sign means on said taxi top.

12. The advertising device of claim 3 in which said alignment means includes structure defining a downturned edge along an edge portion of said upper plate, said downturned edge extending substantially perpendicular said first edge portion of said plate and extending substantially transversely of said frame, said downturned edge being adapted to engage an edge portion of said lower plate when aligning said upper plate hole and said lower plate threaded aperture for the engagement of said screw and for fastening said upper plate and said lower plates together.

In combination with a taxi having an elongated top extending fore and aft of said taxi, an advertising device comprising a frame having a horizontally extending bottom member, sign means carried by said frame, and at least one attachment device removably attaching said frame to said taxi top with said frame and said sign means extending substantially in a vertical plane and disposed substantially transversely symmetrical of said taxi top, said attachment device including a substantially lower plate having a first edge portion, a second edge portion oppositely disposed from said first edge portion, a threaded aperture in said first edge portion and a groove along said second edge portion, means fixedly fastening said lower plate to said taxi top with said first edge por tion being disposed toward one side and said second edge portion being disposed toward the other side of said taxi top, a substantially fiat upper plate having a first edge portion having a hole extending therethrough, a second edge portion disposed oppositely from said first edge portion, means fixedly securing said upper plate member to said bottom member of said frame with said upper plate member being subjacently disposed of said frame and a headed thumb-screw removably fastening said upper plate and said lower plate members together with said second edge portion of said upper plate member being received in said groove of said lower plate member with said headed thumb-screw extending downwardly through said aperture in said upper plate and threadedly engaging said threaded aperture in said lower plate member.

14-. In combination with a taxi having an elongated top extending fore and aft with said top having an upper surface, an advertising device comprising a pair of signboards with each signboard respectively having an outer face, a frame secured respectively around the periphery of said signboards securing the respective signboards in parallel contiguous relationship and with said outer faces respec tively thereof facing oppositely, and a plurality of attachment devices for removably attaching said frame to said taxi top with said signboards extending respectively parallel and substantially transversely symmetrical of said taxi top, each device of said plurality of attachment devices of said advertising device comprising a first plate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and having structure defining a threaded aperture in said first edge portion with said aperture extending respectively perpendicular said upper and said lower surfaces, said first plate member additionally having structure defining a groove along said upper surface of said second edge portion, means fixedly securing said first plate member of each attachment device to said upper surface of said taxi top with said first edge portion and said threaded aperture being disposed toward one side of said taxi top and with said second edge portion being disposed toward the other side of said taxi top and with said groove disposed upwardly, each attachment device of said plurality of attachment devices additionally including a second plate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and having structure defining an aperture extending through said plate member in said first edge portion, means fixedly securing said second plate member to said frame with said first edge portion being disposed on one side of said frame and with said second edge portion being disposed on the other side of said frame, and a headed screw fastener removably fastening said first plate member and said second plate member of each attachment device together, said frame being removably mounted on said taxi top by said plurality of attachment devices with said second edge portion of said second plate member of each device being received in said groove of said first member and with said screw fastener of each device extending through said aperture in said second plate and threadedly engaging said threaded aperture of said first plate, the signboard means being adapted to be removed from said taxi top by disengaging the screws respectively of said plurality of attachment devices.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,674,264 6/1928 Prather 40125 1,894,482 1/1933 Dorsey 22442.1 2,270,377 1/1942 McLauchlin 40129 2,475,903 7/1949 Klas 22442.1 2,559,163 7/1951 MacDonald 40129 2,613,465 10/1952 View 40-130 2,652,650 9/1953 Helms et a1. 40129 2,942,367 6/1960 Lee et a1 40-130 X 3,142,104 7/ 1964 Nielsen 22442.1 3,152,416 10/1964 MacLean 40-129 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examinera SHELDON M. BENDER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ADVERTISING DEVICE FOR USE WITH A TAXI HAVING A TOP, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A FRAME, SIGN MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME, AT LEAST ONE ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR REMOVABLY ATTACHING SAID ADVERTISING DEVICE TO SAID TAXI; SAID ATTACHMENT DEVICE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT AND RIGID LOWER PLATE HAVING A FIRST EDGE PORTION, A SECOND EDGE PORTION, A THREADED APERTURE IN SAID FIRST EDGE PORTION AND A GROOVE ALONG SAID SECOND EDGE PORTION, FASTENING MEANS FOR RIGIDLY FASTENING SAID LOWER PLATE TO THE TOP OF SAID TAXI, A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT UPPER PLATE FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME, SAID UPPER PLATE BEING PROVIDED WITH A FIRST EDGE PORTION HAVING A HOLE THERETHROUGH AND A SECOND 